The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-06-09
"THE WHITE MAN OF THE NEW
SOUTH"
Reply to Prof. Tillett.
jackson Clarion. ]

JACKSON SIdllou
The above is the somewhat attract
i've title of an article in the March
number of the Century MagastAe
over the signature of "Wilbur Fisk
Tlllett, Vanderbilt University, Nash
vile, Tenn.," which merits attention,
not simply because it is a mis-repre-
sentation of history, but that it ema-
mates from a presumably representative
man in a Southern University. The
author is apparently skirmishing to
bring himself within the scope OF the
gale which has recently given such a
graceful swell to the sails of Mr.. H.
w. Grady. Unfortunately, however,
the zeal of the Vanderbilt professor IS
scarcely tempered with the vein of
native loyalty which tingles through
the eloquence of Georgia's popular
editor.
While disclaiming any purpose to
depreciate "the chivalry, the hospital
ity, the high senses of honor" ETC.,
which characterized the Southern gen
tleman of the Golden time," he yet
placidly assumes and distinctly an
nounces that sthe comparisons and
contrasts instituted must be very unfa-
vorable to the white men of the Old
South" He then flashes upon the
lie hit of his main proposition, that ''l
is the white man of the South. more
than the black, that has been freed by
the civil war" He speaks fi'ppantll
of the South as consuming the first de
cade after the war "wearing the blacl
garb OF mourning for the lost cause,
and "voicing their only feeling
through Father Ryan's mournful thren
odies." He characterizes, what he l
pleased to term "the typical represen
tative Southern man. before the wal
as a "dependent idler, a gentlemal
idler," and says "they were little NOR
than overseers of the blacks. :" II
then kindly informs US that everythln
which the "New South has done, an
is doing in the development of diver
sified industries and material prosper
ity, in education and literature,
morals and religion, is due to tn
"emancipation Of the white man OF tn
South from bondage to idleness whlc
is inseparable from the ownership {
slaves" He further assumes that til
cotton crop of to-day, though thir'
$ per cent. larger than before the war,
raised on a less acreage, which,
claims, is the result of a higher sta
of cultivation incident to free viii
labor. Is there an intelligent man
the South who believes that its avera!
2 agricultural condition now will, in al
respect, compare favorably with tn
z before the war in excellency and tho
:, oughness? "The fine breeds OF Gait
. are everywhere supplanting the inferi
. Breeds" the boned horse, t
g scrub cow and razor backed hogs a
fast disappearing" We venture t
assertion, that five counties IN Miss
sippi, in 1860, could have furnish
more fine blooded saddle, harness al
draught horses than can now be toul
in the entire State. One Southe
:. State could then have shown me
"a fine hogs than now exist in the ent
cotton belt. While very few far
u |, in the South are now stocked W
1T small herds of fine cattle, yet, unc
10 the old system, thousands of plant
had supplied themselves with super
cattle for their own use, that agg
gated more, in numbers and val
than the blooded stock of the sa
territory at present.
s- With a reckless indifference to e
In dence, he swings the sweeping ass